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Home  » News » FIRST LOOK: The Eiffel Tower turns green for Planet Earth

FIRST LOOK: The Eiffel Tower turns green for Planet Earth

November 30, 2015 11:22 IST
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The blue, white and red colours of the French flag that covered the Eiffel Tower after the terrorist attacks of November 13 in Paris are gone. Instead, the tower has gone green.

The Eiffel Tower bears a message that reads, "100% Clean" ahead of the World Climate Change Conference 2015 in Paris. Photograph: Benoit Tessier/Reuters

The structure went green for the opening of the Paris climate conference, marking the launch of an art project that will see "virtual trees" grow on the landmark to support reforestation.

The project, the work of the artist Naziha Mestaoui, is called 1 Heart 1 Tree. It allows participants to add a tree to the installation through the project’s website or a mobile app, by buying a virtual tree. That purchase also supports the planting of a real tree as part of one of the reforestation programs aligned with the project, including in Brazil, Peru, Senegal, Kenya, France, India and Australia.

People are seen in silhouette as they look at the Eiffel Tower that is lit with green lights as part of the events in the French capital to mark the World Climate Change Conference. Photograph: Eric Gaillard/Reuters

Each tree costs between three and 10 euros, depending on the species.

“The idea is to connect the virtual and the real, technology and nature, and give everyone the opportunity to act in a tangible sense,” the artist said.

The art installation has been created by Naziha Mestaoui and is called 1 Heart 1 Tree. Photograph: Eric Gaillard/Reuters

The launch came as some 150 world leaders gathered in Paris for a fortnight of talks starting on Monday intended to clinch the first international pact to limit emissions of the greenhouse gases blamed for climate change.

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